With its fusion of French and authentic Malenesian culture, New Caledonia is a food lover's heaven. Expect to see baguettes and gooey French cheeses sold alongside coconuts and yams at the local market – the tropical and Gallic blend of influences makes the island such a delicious mouth-watering destination for foodies.

Sailboat

New Caledonia is a wonderful spot for sailing cruises. From the Port Moselle Bay in Nouméa, catamarans and sailboats set sail for the most beautiful spots on the lagoon and the Loyalty Islands. For a cruise over several days or just one, you’ll keep an unforgettable memory!

Nouméa, the capital city of New Caledonia is on the ocean. Several bays extend along the city, providing magnificent beaches and points of view. Besides its natural features, Nouméa also has very attractive cultural offerings for tourists who choose to visit there.

From Ouvéa to the Isle of Pines, passing through Lifou, Tiga and Maré, the five islands bordering the Mainland, Grande Terre to the East are yet more gems to discover. From the blue hole of Hanawa at Ouvéa to the Warrior’s Leap at Wakone on Maré, via the Jokin Cliffs at Lifou or the Oro Bay on the Isle of Pines, let yourself be amazed!

The West Coast of the mainland (Grande Terre) shows off a great variety of scenery from its northern tip down to the area surrounding Nouméa. Characterised by both large spaces favouring cattle farming and a lagoon of stunning beauty, the West Coast is also host to a rich cultural heritage.

The central mountain range of the Mainland (Grande Terre) is a natural boundary, overlooking the very different faces of the East and West Coasts. Exposed to strong winds and therefore more humid, the eastern coast offers scenery with sumptuous flora. With a population of largely Melanesian origin, the East Coast has also retained a particularly charming flavour of authenticity.

The Great South, comprising the Mont-Dore and Yaté municipalities, is the most symbolic region for New Caledonia’s three main colours: blue, green and red. From the rainforest to the mining lands there are a thousand shades of green, while the ocean offers a dazzling palette of blues. But if one colour dominates the Great South, it is the specific red of its ground.

Aerodrome and memorial of the Plaine des Gaïacs

New Caledonia knows generally how much it owes to the American presence during the Second World War. The allied troops made a large contribution to the development of the territory's infrastructures. The Plaine des Gaïacs military aerodrome at Pouembout is a notable example of this.

Located in the municipality of Pouembout, to the south of Koné, on the west coast, the Plaine des Gaïacs is highly symbolic of the enormous construction effort undertaken locally by American troops during the last world war.

Right from the time that the United States entered the conflict, New Caledonia, which remained faithful to the Free French of General de Gaulle, took on strategic importance. Its geographic location made Grande Terre a natural rear base in the war in the Pacific. Between 1942 and 1946, more than one million GIs passed through New Caledonia, which became a kind of giant aircraft carrier!

Two runways to accommodate the American air force

In Pouembout, the work of development of the Plaine des Gaïacs started at the end of 1941. Two runways were planned: one of 1,400 meters parallel with the shore, and another oriented north-east, measuring 1,200 meters, that cut across the first at its southern extremity. Started by the French (with more than 400 men working on the project), the works took on a new dimension as from April 1942. At that date, General Patch, Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Corps in New Caledonia, assigned 720 men from the 810ème Bataillon du Génie de l'Aviation [810th Engineering Battalion of the Air Force] to the construction of the aerodrome. Once enlarged and consolidated, the runways were then coated with compacted iron chrome and reinforced with metal grilles at the ends. The two runways were then metaled during 1943, to make takeoffs and landings easier and safer.

An American memorial in homage to the US presence

The first aircraft deployed to defend the isle landed on May 17, 1942. The aerodrome could take up to 40 bombers and 75 fighters simultaneously, but lost its strategic importance at the end of 1943. The theater of operations moved north, as the allied forces advanced, and the aerodrome was closed at the end of the war when it fell into disuse. The Plaine des Gaïacs then returned to its peace of the past.

However, as a homage to the American presence, a memorial was built immediately after the fighting finished, on the edge of the aerodrome and the original dry forest. The homage is more than symbolic, because the long stay of the allied military forces brought New Caledonia into a new era.